FORMER Stormont junior minister Alistair Ross has been appointed to the role of electoral commissioner.
Mr Ross (37), who stood down as the DUP assembly member for East Antrim ahead of last year's assembly election, is one of three commissioners appointed for a two-year term.
The first commissioner from Northern Ireland, he was nominated by Arlene Foster, who he served alongside as private secretary at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment when the DUP leader was minister.
He has been appointed alongside Lord Stephen Gilbert of Panteg and former Labour MP Joan Walley.
According to a spokesman for the regional Electoral Commission, "commissioners set the priorities and strategic direction of the organisation."
